Solar and wind outpaced demand growth in the first half of 2025, as renewables overtook coal’s share in the global electricity mix.
7 Oct 2025
22 Minutes Read
Highlights
Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025
Solar generation growth alone met 83% of the global rise in demand in the first half of 2025
Coal generation fell by 0.6% in the first half of 2025
Executive summary
Solar and wind outpaced demand growth as renewables overtook coal in the first half of 2025
The increase in solar and wind power outpaced global electricity demand growth in the first half of 2025. Solar alone met 83% of the rise, with many countries setting new records. Fossil fuels remained mostly flat, with a slight decline. Fossil generation fell in China and India, but grew in the EU and the US.
As the world’s energy needs increase and electricity makes up a growing share of final energy consumption, spectacular solar growth, alongside increased wind generation, met and exceeded all new demand. This led to renewables overtaking coal’s share in the global mix and prevented further increases in CO2 emissions from the power sector.
We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth. As costs of technologies continue to fall, now is the perfect moment to embrace the economic, social and health benefits that come with increased solar, wind and batteries.
Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka
Senior Electricity Analyst, Ember
This analysis confirms what we are witnessing on the ground: solar and wind are no longer marginal technologies—they are driving the global power system forward. The fact that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time marks a historic shift. But to lock in this progress, governments and industry must accelerate investment in solar, wind, and battery storage, ensuring that clean, affordable, and reliable electricity reaches communities everywhere.
Sonia Dunlop
CEO, Global Solar Council
Key takeaways
01
Solar and wind outpaced demand growth in the first half of 2025
Global electricity demand grew by 2.6% (+369 TWh) in the first half of 2025. This increase was more than met by increases in solar (+306 TWh, +31%) and wind (+97 TWh, +7.7%) generation, with solar alone covering 83% of the rise. Hydro fell significantly while bioenergy output dipped slightly, and nuclear rose modestly, while overall fossil generation fell marginally (-0.3%).
02
Solar saw record growth
Solar grew by a record 306 TWh (31%) in the first half of 2025. This increased solar’s share in the global electricity mix from 6.9% to 8.8%. China accounted for 55% of global solar generation growth, followed by the US (14%), the EU (12%), India (5.6%) and Brazil (3.2%), while the rest of the world contributed just 9%. Four countries generated over 25% of their electricity from solar, and at least 29 countries surpassed 10%, up from 22 countries in the same period last year and only 11 countries in H1-2021.
03
Renewables overtook coal
A strong rise in solar, and to a lesser extent wind, led to renewables overtaking coal generation for the first time on record in the first half of 2025. Renewables grew by 363 TWh (+7.7%) to reach 5,072 TWh, while coal generation fell by 31 TWh to 4,896 TWh. As a result, renewables’ share of global electricity rose to 34.3% (from 32.7%), while coal’s share fell to 33.1% (from 34.2%).
04
Coal fell in both China and India — temporarily in India, but more structurally in China
Global fossil fuel generation fell slightly in the first half of 2025, down 27 TWh from the same period last year. Among major economies, fossil fuel generation decreased in China and India, where clean generation outpaced demand growth. By contrast, in the US, clean sources did not keep pace with demand rise, so fossil generation increased. In the EU, both coal and gas inched up to offset lower wind, hydro and bioenergy output.
05
Power sector emissions plateaued
Despite global electricity demand rising by 2.6%, emissions fell slightly by 12 MtCO2 in the first half of 2025. Declines in China (-46 MtCO2) and India (-24 MtCO2) reflected clean generation growth outpacing demand. By contrast, emissions increased in the EU (+13 MtCO2) and the US (+33 MtCO2) compared with the same period last year.